Steam-trap.



No. 719,740. PATBNTBD PEB. 3, 1903.

J. J. BURKE.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 25. 1902. Y No MODEL. :j SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 719,740. PATENT-ED EEB. 3,1903. J. J. BURKE.

` STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION I ILEDFEIBl 25, 1902. i

A lm

UNTTED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. BURKE, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

STEAM-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,740, dated Februaryl 3, 1903. Application filed February y25, 1902. Serial No. 95,561. (No model.)

A further object of the invention isthe-A provision, in a steam-trap, ofimprovedmeans for causing the contents of said steam-trap to be conveyed to a steam-generator.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a steam-trap, of improved means for causing the valves employed therein to remain open until the entire contents of the trap are discharged therefrom.

Further objects of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of one form of my improved steam-trap, taken upon line a a of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section upon line b b of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a portion of the valve-operating mechanism and the steam-valve. Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical section of a modified form of myimproved steam-trap with certain parts shown in elevation, and Fig. is a horizontal section upon line c c of Fig. 4.

Like numerals designate similar lparts throughout the several views.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I have provided a casing 5, to which is secured an overow-chamber 6 having valves 7 and S for a purpose hereinafter described. Mounted in a bracket 9, secured to one cf the walls of the casing, is an angle-lever 10, through the free end of which passes the rod 12 of a iloat 13, depending by said rod from the angle-lever into the overflow-chamber d, said rod 12 having adjustable collars or Washers 14 and 14' to limit the movement which the float may have Without actuating the lever 10. A packing-box 152 is shown where the lever 10 passes through the wall of the casing to provide a Huid-tight joint at that point. The angle-lever 10 comleading to a steam-generator or other source 6a of high-pressure stea1n,while the other branch 162 of the valve-casing connects with a ver tical branch pipe 18, which is in turn connected to a horizontal line of piping 20, leading to a discharge-pipe 21 of the trap, the end of said piping being reduced at 22 to form an injector-nozzle at the point Where the piping 2O enters the discharge-pipeV 21. The casing 5 is provided with a closure 23, carrying a check-valve 2l for allowing the air contained in the trap to be expelled therefrom as the trap fills and designed to close and prevent theingrcss of air to the trap when the contents thereof are being discharged. Designatedby the numeral 25 is the usual supply-pipeV for 'conveying the water of condensaticn from a heating system or 10W-pressure coil to the steam-trap, over the mouth of which pipe is a screen 26 for preventing scale or other injurious substances from entering the trap, said supply-pipe being provided with a check-valve 27 for a purpose hereinafter described. A coupling 28, connecting the piping 20 and the discharge-pipe 2l, has a branch 28' entering the bottom of the trap and forming the discharge-valve casing thereof, said casing being provided with a valve-seat 29, upon which is normally seated the valve 30, the stern 31 ofsaid valve being carried by the free por'tion 10' of the angle-lever 10. Mounted upon the bearing portion 1O`l2 of the angle-lever 10 is a counter` y poise-lever 33, carrying an adjustable Weight 34, this weight determining the height to which the water must rise in the overflowchamber before the lever 10 .actuates the valves 16 and 30 to discharge the contents of the trap through the discharge-,pipe 21, which leads to the steam-generator, from which the valve-casing 16' receives its supply of highpressure steam; The operation of this form of my improved steam-trap is as follows: When the water of condensation entering the trap through the supply-pipe 25 has attained sufcient height to overfiow into the chamber 6, the buoyancy of the iioat 13 causes it to rise as the Water fills the chamber, and it is obvious that when the tloat ascends to asufcient height to cause the adjustable collar 14, carried by the rod 12, to strike against the lever 10 the valves 16 and 30 will be opened to permit live steam from the boiler to pass through the piping 20 and dischargepipe 2l, thereby causing the contents ofthe trap to be returned to the steam-generator through the coupling 28 and discharge-pipe 21; but just before the float reaches the above-described point the valve 7 in the bottom of the overflow-chamber will be lifted through the medium of a flexible connection 35, between said valve and the float 13, which will result in a sudden influx of Water into the overflow-chamber, thereby causing the oat and the free end of the angle-lever to be lifted with a quick and positive movement and through said lever the valves 16 and 30 to be opened, as hereinbefore described. Heretofore devices of this class have sometimes failed to operate on account of the adhesion of the valves to their seats; but by the provision of means as described for imparting a sudden movement or jerk to the angle-lever this defect is overcome, and both valves will be positively opened to permit all of the contents of the trap to be discharged. As the water-level falls the check-valve 24 closes and a vacuum is formed in the body of the trap, and consequently in the supplypipe and the low-pressure coil to which said supply-pipe leads, Which will cause any Water standing in said coil to be drawn into the trap and discharged, as above described, the check-valve 27 upon said pipe serving a purpose which Will be hereinafter described,

As soon as the discharge of Water from the trap has resulted in reducing the Water-level in the body of the trap enough to allow the float to drop and the valve 7 to be seated any further discharge of Water from said trap Will cause the valve 8 to be opened by the pressure from the overloW-chamber and the contents ot' said chamber to be discharged into the body of the trap. By making the discharge-opening covered by the valve 8 much Smaller than the main discharge.- opening formed by the valve-seat 29 the complete discharge of the contents of the overflow-chamber is retarded to such an extent that the entire contents of the body of the trap are discharged before the Hoat 13 drops sufficiently to close the Valves 16 and 30, such complete discharge being facilitated by having a por-v tion of the bottom of the trap inclined, as at 36, thereby causing the Water to flow to the main discharge-opening.

In the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the casing 5, overflow-chamber 6, valves 7 and 8, rod 12, oat 13, adjustable collars 14 and 14', branch 17, vertical branch pipe 1S, dischargepipe 21, injector-nozzle 22, closure 23, check--Valve 24,

supply-pipe 25screen 26, check-valve 27, flexible connection 35, and incline 36 are the same as those shown in the preferred form of my invention; but in this modification the form of the angle-lever has been changed, as shown, a vertical extension 42 of said lever being pivoted at 40 in brackets 41 and 41', said extension being lit-ted between collars 43 43 of the valve-stem 44 of the valve 44', the valve-casingbeing connected,asbefore stated, with the vertical branch pipe 18, Which is in turn connected tothe horizontal branch pipe 45 by an elbow 46. This pipe 45 is reduced `to form an injector-nozzle 22, which Iits in a coupling 47, and said coupling is substantially like the coupling 28, excepting that the valve-seat 29 is omitted therefrom and that in the place of the valve 30 a branch of a U- shaped Siphon-tube 48 is threaded into said coupling, the other branch of said tube terminatingshort of the bottom of the trap for a purpose hereinafter described. In the 0peration of this form of myinvention the movement of the float, and consequently the angle-lever, is the same as that deseribed in the preferred forni of my device, and it is obvious that said movement of the angle-lever Will, through the vertical extension 42, open the Valve 44', thereby admitting live steam to the pipes 18 and 45 andthe injector-nozzle 22, which will result in a vacuum being formed in the coupling 47, U-shaped Siphon-tube 4S, and discharge-pipe 21, and will cause the contents of the trap to be siphoned therefrom through the parts described. The closure of the valve 44', which is caused by the fall of the Water in the chamber 6, will stop'the flow of steam to the nozzle 22 when the contents of the trap have been discharged, said fall of Water permittingthe float 13vto return toits normal position, as described in the preferred form of my invention. It is obvious that the discharge of the contents of the trap will create a Vacu um in the low-pressure coil leading from the supply-pipe 25, as hereinbefore described.

l 1n both forms of my invention a check-valve 50 is provided in the discharge-pipe 2l to prevent back pressure from the boiler from affecting the trap, and if this valve should not open promptly upon the admission of live steam through the nozzle 22 and in consequence the pressure in the steam-trap becomes unusually great by the steam nding its Way through the coupling 28 into said trap the check-valve 27 in pipe 25 Will act to prevent such pressure from entering the lowpressure coil.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- 1. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, of a steam-supply valve; an injector controlled by said valve; a dischargevalve; a discharge-pipe; and means controlled by the rise of the liquid in the receptacle for actuating both of said valves.

2.- In a steam-trap, the combination, with TOO IIO

a receptacle, of a steam-supply valve; an injector controlled by said valve; a dischargevalve; a discharge-pipe; means controlled by the rise of liquid in the receptacle for opening said valves; and means for causing said valves to remain open until the entire contents of the receptacle are discharged.

3. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, of a steam-supply valve; a discharge-valve; means for opening both of said valves quickly and positively; means for causing said valves to remain open until the entire con tents of the trap are discharged; and means for discharging said contents of the trap.

4. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, of a discharge-valve; a steamsupply valve; a iioat; means controlled by the float for actuating both of said valves; and an injector entering the discharge-valve casing.

5. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, of a discharge-pipe leading from said receptacle; a steam-supply pipe; a valve in said steam-supply pipe; a valve controlling the passage of liquid to the discharge-pipe; a float; and means connecting by the float with both of said valves.

6. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, of a supply-pipe for said receptacle; a chamber in said receptacle; a iloat within said chamber; a discharge-valve; and means controlled by the iioat for actuating said discharge-valve.

7. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, of a su pply-pipe for said receptacle; a chamber in the receptacle; a valve in said chamber; a ioat; means connecting the float with the valve; a discharge-valve; and means controlled by the fioat for actuating said discharge-valve.

8. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, ot' a chamber within said receptacle; a oat located in the chamber; a valve in the chamber, said valve being connected to the fioat; a discharge-valve; and a lever, actuated by the oat for operating said discharge-valve.

9. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle having a discharge-port, of a float, an overflow-chamber in which the float is l'ocated; a steam-supply pipe; a valve in said pipe; an injectornozzle connected to said pipe; a discharge-pipe for receiving the jet from the injector; and means controlled by the oat for actuating the valve in the stearnsupply pipe.

l0. The combination, with a receptacle, of an overliow-chamber; a iioat located in said overflow-chamber; a lever controlled by the oat; a steam-supply valve actuated by the lever; an injector; and a discharge-passage for receiving the jet from said injector.

ll. The combination, with a receptacle, of an overiiow-chamber within said receptacle; a float in the overflow-chamber; a valve to which said iioat is connected; adjustable stops on the stem of the float; a pivoted lever, an arm of which is located between said stops; a steam-supply valve connected to another arm ofsaid lever; an injector; and a dischargepassage leading from the receptacle and with which the injector communicates.

12. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, of an overiioW-chamber; valves carried by said chamber; a float in said chamber; and means for actuating one of said valves when said float has risen to a predetermined height.

13. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, of an overflow-chamber; valves carried by said chamber; a float in said chamber; and a connection between said iioat and one ot' said valves.

14:. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, of an overflow-chamber; valves carried by said chamber; a float in said chamber; and a flexible connection between said iioat and one of said valves.

15. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle; of a pivoted lever; an overflowchamber; a float carried by said lever and l0- cated in said overow-chamber; and a discharge-valve controlled by the lever.

16. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle, of a pivoted lever; valves actuated by said lever; an overflow-chamber; a valve in said chamber; and a lioat connected to one of the valves of said chamber and to the lever.

17. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle having an inclined` bottom, of a lever; a float carried by said lever; steam3 supply and discharge valves actuated by said lever; means for creating a vacuum at a point adjacent to said discharge-valve; and means 'for actuating the lever with a quick and positive motion.

18. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a receptacle having an inclined bottom, of an overflow-chamber valves carried by said overflow-chamber; a pivoted lever; a float carried TOO IIO

by said lever and depending into the overt flow-chamber; a steam-supply valve; adischarge-valve, both of said valves actuated by said lever; a supply-pipe; a check-valve carried by said supply-pipe; a closure for the receptacle, said closure carrying a checkvalve; a discharge-pipe; a check-valve carried by said discharge-pipe; a pipe connection between the steam-supply valve and the i valve; said valve being actuated by the lever; a closure for the receptacle; a check- In testimony whereof Iafflx my signature Valve carried by said closure; a supply-pipe; in presence of two Witnesses.

a cheek-valve carried by said su ly-pipe;

a, discharge-pipe; a Check-valve gnrried by JAMES J BURKE' said discharge-pipe; a coupling into which Witnesses:

the discharge-pipe is inserted; and an in- WILLIAM H. BLODGETT, Jr., jector-nozz1e in said coupling. l

FRANK G. CAMPBELL. 

